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–+ servings
A gift bag of caramel Chex mix.
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4.76 from 37 votes

Caramel Chex Mix

Caramel Chex Mix is the tastiest snack or gift for the holiday season. Cereal and pretzels are coated in caramel for a sweet and salty treat.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: christmas, holiday, snack
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 269kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 4 cups Bugles
  • 4 cups rice Chex cereal
  • 1 cup tiny pretzel twists
  • ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup salted butter
  • 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375˚F.
  • In a large roasting pan, combine Bugles, Chex and pretzels.
  • To a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and baking soda.
  • Pour the syrup over the cereal mixture, and toss until all of the pieces are coated well.
  • Bake 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. If baking on a sheet pan, check for doneness at 10 as it’s spread thinner and could be done more quickly.
  • Carefully transfer the hot mix onto parchment paper on a countertop. Once the mix has completely cooled, break into pieces.

Video

Notes

This makes approximately 10 - 1 cup servings.
Tips and Substitutions
    • Availability:If you don’t have bugles in you’re area, corn chips can be used instead.
    • Even Coating: Ensure that the caramel sauce coats all the ingredients evenly.
    • Stirring During Baking: Stir the mix every 5 minutes while it's baking to prevent it from clumping and ensure an even caramel coating.
    • Cool Thoroughly: Allow the Caramel Chex Mix to cool completely on the parchment paper. This helps the caramel set and gives you the perfect crunch.
    • Cereal: While Chex cereal is my favorite choice for this Christmas Crunch recipe, you can experiment with other cereals like Cheerios or Crispix for different textures and flavors.
    • Nuts: An optional add-in, nuts or seeds, such as almonds, cashews, peanuts, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds can add fiber, healthy fat, and an added crunch.
    • Add-In Options: Feel free to add your favorite seasonal candy or baking chips to the mix once it's cooled and been broken into clusters.
    • Pretzels: Feel free to use different types of pretzels in your mix, like pretzel sticks or twists.
    • Savory Variation: If you prefer a savory twist, you can sprinkle a touch of sea salt on the mix once your transfer it to the parchment paper to cool.

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 370mg | Potassium: 55mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 484IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 4mg
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